"As has hopefully been clear from the first page of our first issue, Saga is a series for the proverbial 'mature reader'," Vaughan said in a press release.

"Unfortunately, because of two postage stamp-sized images of gay sex, Apple is banning tomorrow's Saga #12 from being sold through any iOS apps. This is a drag, especially because our book has featured what I would consider much more graphic imagery in the past, but there you go.

"Fiona and I could always edit the images in question, but everything we put into the book is there to advance our story, not (just) to shock or titillate, so we're not changing s**t."

He encouraged annoyed fans to donate to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which works to support the free speech rights of comics creators.

The comic depicts two small images of sex on Prince Robot IV's screen.

The issue will be available through Image Comics' website. comiXology has told Comic Book Resources that the issue will also be available on their website.